Michael Kyser named President of Black Music at Atlantic in US February 3, 2011 By Music Business Worldwide Michael Kyser has been appointed as the first-ever President of Black Music for the Atlantic Records Group. 1 again in MarchApril 1952 with "5-10-15 Hours". Jerry L. Greenberg is an American music executive, who at 32, was the youngest president of any major record company in the recording industry and received that title in 1974 as President of Atlantic Records. in large type (which spawned copycat vandalism). No further albums were issued as the label lasted less than a year. Once there, he continued to sign major artists, including Michel'le and JJ Fad, produced by Dr. Dre and Eazy-E. He later recorded two more parodies, "White & Nerdy", and "Do I Creep You Out", both released September 26 to replace it. Wexler taught Greenberg all about recording, producing, finding songs, and the day-to-day tasks of running a major label. In 1990 he and Ertegun disputed the content of Charles's contract, which caused a rift. 1 R&B hit, but it only reached No. [15], In late 1947, James Petrillo, head of the American Federation of Musicians, announced an indefinite ban on all recording activities by union musicians, and this came into effect on January 1, 1948. Since they jointly held more stock, Ahmet was obliged to agree to the sale. Atlantic Records President of Promotion Andrea Ganis Looks Back, and Ahead, at Her Legendary Career By Jem Aswad Courtesy of andrea ganis Few music industry vets approach the level of royalty. The Head of Enabling Services domains includes but is not limited to Finance Systems, Supply Chain Systems, Human Capital Management Systems, Legal systems, and other miscellaneous applications. The band recorded for Atlantic Records, Roulette Records, United Artists, and DCP Records as Jerry Green and The Passengers. Aaron Bay-Schuck (born September 5, 1981) is an American music industry executive. 2 after spending almost six months on the Billboard R&B chart although McGhee himself earned just $10 for the session. The announcement was made today by Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman . By the mid-1950s Atlantic had an informal agreement with the French label Barclay, and the two companies regularly exchanged titles, usually jazz recordings. Jerry L. Greenberg is an American music executive, who at 32, was the youngest president of any major record company in the recording industry and received that title in 1974 as President of Atlantic Records . Ertegun and Wexler knew of the group's leader, Jimmy Page, through The Yardbirds, and their favorable opinion was reinforced by Dusty Springfield, who recommended Atlantic sign the band. He started his career in the music business as a drummer in the band "Jerry Green and The Passengers" which he founded. Army. [26] In this system, recordings were made using two microphones, spaced at approximately the distance between the human ears, and the left and right channels were recorded as two separate, parallel grooves. In April of that year, Miriam (Abramson) Bienstock reported to Billboard that Atlantic was selling 75% of its singles as 45s. Label President Ahmet Ertegun still had no desire to sell, but the balance of power had changed since the abortive takeover attempt of 1962; Atlantic's original investor Dr Vahdi Sabit and minority stockholder Miriam Bienstock had both been bought out in September 1964[51] and the other remaining partner, Nesuhi Ertegun, was eventually convinced to side with Wexler. Aaron Bay-Schuck. Michael Kyser has been named the first-ever President of Black Music for the Atlantic Records Group. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [53] Months later the company was reeling from the successive loss of its two biggest artists, Bobby Darin and Ray Charles, who together accounted for one-third of sales. 1 in the UK and became a multi-million seller. In 1978, Atlantic finally broke the leading UK progressive group Genesis as a major act in the US. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced Tuesday that Norse Atlantic Airways will commence new, low-price, nonstop service between London's Gatwick International Airport (LGW) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) on June 1, 2023. Currently serving as Vice President of A&R at Atlantic Records in New York. [26], Nesuhi was also in charge of LP production. ", Atlantic suffered a catastrophic loss in the early morning of February 8, 1978, when a fire destroyed most of its tape archive, which had been stored in a non-air-conditioned warehouse in Long Branch, New Jersey. The label was originally formed as an outlet for blues and deep Southern soul; its first single, Otis Clay's version of "She's About A Mover", was an R&B hit. 1969 - When Atlantic's parent company, Warner Bros-Seven Arts was sold to Kinney Services (Predecessor to Warner Communications in 1969, Greenberg was announced General Manager of Atlantic Records. During his short time at Atlantic, Spector produced music for LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown, Jean DuShon, and Billy Storm. [5][47], Record producer Phil Spector moved to New York to work with Leiber and Stoller. Ryan Brady, a VP at Atlantic Records and a host of the Take It Away podcast, has died in a car accident at the age of 34. Atlantic signed the band to an exclusive five-year contract, one of the "most substantial" in the label's history[74] Zeppelin recorded for Atlantic from 1968 to 1973. He wore T-shirts reading "Atlantic Records sucks" while performing live and, in the music video for "White & Nerdy", he defaces Atlantic's article on Wikipedia, replacing the page with "YOU SUCK!" Satellite was renamed Stax after the owners, Stewart and Axton. Acceding to Ertegun's demand, Collins took the unusual step of overdubbing extra drums on the finished master tape, and he later commented, "He (Ertegun) was quite right. 2, Pop No. According to Greenberg, Ertegun had long seen the UK as a source of untapped talent. At this same time, Genesis' contract with Atlantic was up for renewal, and Collins was yet to sign as a solo artist. He produced "Twist and Shout" for The Top Notes, and it flopped. In 1967, Atlantic became a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, now the Warner Music Group, and expanded into rock and pop music with releases by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Led Zeppelin, and Yes. He gained executive control of the label and influenced the Warner group. By the age of eighteen years, Greenberg already had his own record label, called Green-Sea Records. Wexler contacted the co-owner of Satellite, Jim Stewart, who agreed to lease the record to Atlantic for $1000 plus a small royaltythe first money the label had ever made. [36] By 1958 Atlantic was America's second-largest independent jazz label. He learned his trade at Trey Records, a label in California owned by Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood and distributed by Atlantic. He became Vice President of A&R at Atlantic, while continuing to oversee Big Beat. From this point, and notwithstanding the impact of the punk/new wave movement in the late 1970s, the band enjoyed an extraordinary run of successbeginning with their fourth album Fragile, each of the eleven albums they released between 1971 and 1991 (including the lavishly packaged live triple-album Yessongs) made the Top 20 in the US and the UK, and the double-LP Tales of Topographic Oceans (1973) and Going For The One (1977) both reached #1 in the UK. The signing was complicated by the fact that Nash was still under contract to Epic Records (The Hollies' US distributor), but Ertegun used his diplomatic prowess to overcome this by arranging a 'swap' he released former Buffalo Springfield member Richie Furay from his Atlantic contract, allowing Furay's new group Poco to sign to Epic, and in exchange Columbia Records (the parent company of Epic) allowed Nash to sign to Atlantic. He saw something more in there that wasn't coming out before. Big Joe Turner's April 1954 song "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was a No. They licensed the name from America's No. [5] Joel Dorn became Nesuhi's assistant after his successful production of Hubert Laws' album The Laws of Jazz.[37][38]. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. Clark will be based in NYC. [17] Atlantic's fortunes rose rapidly: 187 songs were recorded in 1949, more than three times the amount from the previous two years, and received overtures for a manufacturing and distribution deal with Columbia, which would pay Atlantic a 3% royalty on every copy sold. Spector became one of the most successful record producers of the 1960s. 1994 - Greenberg is elected to the Board of Directors of Westwood One, the world's #1 supplier of talk, sports, radio, news, and shows all over the world. The new Warner owners refused to relinquish ownership of the Stax masters, so the distribution deal ended in May 1968. But the Ertegun brothers held the majority of stock while Wexler controlled about 20 percent. The building was purchased less than a week earlier and had been scheduled to reopen as a Nadler's Furniture Center, in an effort to revitalize the downtown area. [24][25], Atlantic was one of the first independent labels to make recordings in stereo: Dowd used a portable stereo recorder which ran simultaneously with the studio's existing mono recorder. Vice President, A&R. Phone Email. Keefa Black. By the age of eighteen, Greenberg already had his own record label, called Green-Sea Records. Irene received a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint John's University. Following his departure, Ertegunwho had previously taken little interest in Atlantic's business affairstook decisive control of the label[66] and quickly became a major force in the expanding Warner music group. There are so many artists Ive been lucky to be involved with, and I love breaking music from so many different genres, she says, launching into a long list that includes INXS, Stone Temple Pilots, Hootie and the Blowfish, Jewel, Matchbox 20, Skid Row, Brandy, Kid Rock, Tori Amos, En Vogue, Aaliyah, and of course our current super-bigs, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Cardi B, Coldplay, Lizzo, not to mention this years chart goliath, Roddy Ricch. Atlantic said it was too early in Blunt's career, and it did not want him to be a one-hit wonder. Their single "Money Honey" became the biggest R&B hit of the year. 22 on the pop chart. 1974 - Ahmet Ertegun, now Chairman, announced Greenberg as President of Atlantic Records, making him the youngest president of a major record company at 32. Charles signed a contract with ABC-Paramount that included higher royalties, a production deal, profit-sharing, and eventual ownership of his master tapes. Although Ertegun had been forced into accepting the sale, he turned the situation to his advantage. Wexler was a fan of Burke's and had long wanted to sign him so when Burke told Wexler his contract with his former label had expired Wexler replied: "You're home. [52], Atlantic was doing so well in early 1959 that some scheduled releases were held back, and the company enjoyed two successive months of gross sales of over $1 million that summer, thanks to hits by The Coasters, The Drifters, LaVern Baker, Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, and Clyde McPhatter. 1, Pop No. 5), and "Think" (Soul No. Playing them back required a turntable with a special tone-arm fitted with dual needles; it was not until around 1958 that the single stylus microgroove system (in which the two stereo channels were cut into either side of a single groove) became the industry standard. In October 1967 Atlantic was sold to Warner Bros.-Seven Arts for US$17.5 million, although all the partners later agreed that it was a poor deal that greatly undervalued Atlantic's true worth. WEA was also used as a label for distributing the company's artists outside North America. He soon stopped when RCA signed Elvis Presley. A subsidiary label, Atco, was established in 1955 to keep Abramson involved. In 1962 folk music was booming and the label came very close to signing Peter, Paul & Mary; although Wexler and Ertegun pursued them vigorously the deal fell through at the last minute and they later discovered music publisher Artie Mogull had introduced their manager Albert Grossman to Warner Bros. executive Herman Starr, who had made the trio an irresistible offer that gave them complete creative control over the recording and packaging of their music.[61]. [32] He was appointed vice-president and purchased 13% of the company's stock. The single was issued in August 1962 and became the biggest instrumental hit of the year, reaching No. Lanre Gaba has been promoted to Co-President, Black Music for Atlantic Records. He signed with Capitol and moved for Hollywood to attempt a movie career, but hits such as "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" and "Things" continued to benefit Atco through 1962. Bell was the first African-American partner in the label.[58]. Much of this was due to Kalodner, who later admitted that, as soon as Gabriel was dropped from Atlantic, he realized he had made a mistake. Wexler ultimately decided to leave New York and move to Florida. [55], In 1960, Atlantic's Memphis distributor Buster Williams contacted Wexler and told him he was pressing large quantities of "Cause I Love You", a duet between Carla Thomas and her father Rufus which was released by the small label Satellite. 3 in September 1952, and "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" with Connie Kay on drums reached No. Greenberg was asked to stay on and produce movie soundtracks, and in turn, ended up working with such greats as Mel Brooks on the soundtrack for the 1987 comedy, 'Spaceballs.'. [39] The roles of the other executives with Abramson's departure were Wexler as executive vice-president and general manager, Nesuhi Ertegun as executive vice-president in charge of the LP department and Miriam Bienstock as vice-president and also president of Atlantic's music publishing arm Progressive Music with Wexler as executive vice-president and the Ertegun brothers vice-president of Progressive. In late 1961 singer Solomon Burke arrived at Jerry Wexler's office unannounced. Jerry also introduced Mariah Carey to Tommy Mottola. 1 in both the US and the UK, sold over 2 million copies, and won the 1960 Grammy Award for Record of the Year. "[79], Although his close friendship with Ertegun helped Collins launch his solo career, the fact that he eventually signed to Atlantic in the US was apparently as much by luck as by design. [90] The parody was released online for free on June 7. Ertegun asked about artists' royalties, which he paid, and this surprised Columbia executives, who did not, and the deal was scuttled. By 1958, relations between Abramson and his partners had broken down; in December 1958 a $300,000 buy-out was arranged; his stock was split between Nesuhi Ertegun and Abramson's ex-wife Miriam, who had in the meantime remarried to music publisher Freddy Bienstock (later the owner of the Carlin Music / Chappell Music publishing empire). Nov 2016 - Present6 years 5 months. Harry Anger and Arnie Geller mentored me during my Polydor days, but ultimately it was Doug Morris who really taught me the business, she says of the longtime Atlantic president who became the only person to be CEO of all three major label groups. Blog http . [20], Joe Morris, one of the label's earliest signings, scored a hit with his October 1950 song "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere", the first Atlantic record issued in 45rpm format, which the company began pressing in January 1951. Although the extended length of much of their material made it somewhat difficult to promote the band with single releases, their live prowess gained them an avid following and their albums were hugely successful their third LP The Yes Album (1971), which featured the debut of new guitarist Steve Howe, became their first big hit, reaching #4 in the UK and just scraping onto the chart in the US at #40. 1986 - Greenberg is named President of MGM/United Artists. Irene Sourlis is a Vice President, A&R Administration at Atlantic Records based in New York, New York. They are seeking a Vice President Employee Engagement and . [91], In 2007, the label celebrated its 60th anniversary with the May 2 PBS broadcast of the American Masters documentary Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built and the simultaneous Starbucks CD release of Atlantic 60th Anniversary: R&B Classics Chosen By Ahmet Ertegun. Jeff Levin started at Atlantic in 2010 and has since A&R'd a wide range of artists across the Warner . Ahmet Ertegun had first seen them perform in the Midwest on one of their early American tours, and it was on this occasion that he also became an ardent fan of their drummer/vocalist, Phil Collins. 9), "Respect" (Soul and Pop No. Lance Gross Dallas Martin, the Atlantic Records A&R executive whose successes include records by Roddy Ricch and Meek Mill, has been promoted to executive vice president of A&R at. [29] In 1951, Atlantic was one of the first independent labels to press records in the 45rpm single format. His early releases were unsuccessful, and Abramson planned to drop him. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. The Rainbow Bar & Grill in Las Vegas recreates the Hollywood location with red leather booths and rock-n-roll memorabilia adorning the walls. The highly respected executive, who celebrates her 20 th anniversary with the label this year, was most recently Atlantic's General Manager/Executive Vice President of Black Music A&R. In her new post, Gaba will work alongside Co-President, Black Music Mike Kyser. [31] Ertegun and Wexler realized many R&B recordings by black musicians were being covered by white performers, often with greater chart success. Much of Atlantic's renewed success as a rock label in the late 1970s can be attributed to the efforts of renowned A&R manager John Kalodner. Our costs began at the production levelthe pressing, and distribution, and promotion, and advertising. [50], Leiber and Stoller worked briefly for United Artists, then started Red Bird with George Goldner. Two members of The Robins formed The Coasters and recorded hits for Atlantic, such as "Down in Mexico" and "Young Blood". Professional Member of The Recording Academy / GRAMMY's, Recipient of the Nordic Music Bizz' '20 under 30' prize anno 2019. [10][11][12] In the early fifties, Atlantic moved from the Hotel Jefferson to offices at 301 West 54th St and then to 356 West 56th St. Atlantic's first recordings were issued in late January 1948 and included "That Old Black Magic" by Tiny Grimes and "The Spider" by Joe Morris. [88], Time Warner sold Warner Music Group to a group of investors for $2.6 billion in late 2003. [30] Wexler is credited with coining the term "rhythm & blues" to replace "race music". Wexler recalled, "We didn't pay for the mastersJim paid for the masters and then he would send us a finished tape and we would put it out. Atlantic Records. At his urging, Greenberg visited the UK six or seven times every year in search of acts to sign to the label.[72]. Over 60 years of recorded music history from Aretha Franklin & Led Zeppelin to Bruno Mars & Ed Sheeran. [60] He brought Atlantic musicians to Memphis to record. He also signed a platinum rock group from England, The Escape Club, and served as executive producer of the soundtrack to the hit motion picture, Coming to America, starring Eddie Murphy. When released in February 1949,[5] it became Atlantic's first hit, selling 400,000 copies, and reached No. 5[30] (although The Crew-Cuts' version went to No. Collins later commented, "We didn't use his version, but we knew what he was getting at. In 1969 Warner Bros.-Seven Arts was taken over by the Kinney National Company, and in the early 1970s the group was rebadged as Warner Communications. He is currently working with Ricch on his second studio album as well as A&Ring the new album from Ty Dolla . Gerald was the third person Mottola hired on his team and let him form his own label as President of WTG Records. The Vice President of Student Records and College Registrar provides the statewide vision and leadership for the student records enterprise at Ivy Tech Community College. Kalodner built his reputation by signing acts that other labels had turned down, and perhaps the most significant example of his achievements in this area was his championing of the Anglo-American band Foreigner. Cotillion also released the triple-albums soundtrack of the Woodstock festival film in 1970. [71][pageneeded] With Ertegun's power at Warners now secure, Atlantic was able to maintain autonomy through the parent company reorganizations and continue to do their own marketing, while WEA handled distribution. In the meantime, original lead singer Peter Gabriel had left the group in 1975, followed in 1977 by lead guitarist Steve Hackett, reducing the group to a three-piece. Over the next four years he was instrumental in signing a string of major acts including Foreigner, AC/DC, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins. Atlantic Business Interiors. The sale of Atlantic Records activated a clause in the distribution agreement with Stax Records calling for renegotiation of the distribution deal and at this point, the Stax partners discovered that the deal gave Atlantic ownership of all the Stax recordings Atlantic distributed. During his tenure as president of several major labels, Jerry has signed such acts as ABBA, The Blues Brothers, Foreigner, Genesis, TS Monk, Whitesnake, Chic, Nile Rodgers, Dr. Dre & Eazy-E (Production Deal), Motrhead, Brownstone and 3T. [19] After Brown left the label in 1961, her career declined, and she worked as a cleaner and bus driver to support her children. Leiber, Stoller, Goldner, and Wexler suggested their plan to Ertegun at a lunch meeting at the Plaza Hotel in New York. Passengers on the new route will travel aboard Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft configured . [59], Atlantic began pressing and distributing Stax records. Atlantic Group is representing a privately held investment firm serving some of the world's most influential families and organizations. 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A few weeks later Brown's "Teardrops from My Eyes" became its first million-selling record. NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) - Erika Clark has been promoted to Vice President (VP) of Media Relations at Island Records by Executive Vice President of Media Relations Lauren Schneider, to whom Clark will report. In 1968 the label issued History of Rhythm and Blues, Volume 4 in stereo. Sam Riback has been working as a Vice President of A and R at Atlantic Records for 21 years. 1633 Broadway Fl 10, New York, New York, 10019, United States. 2007 - Jerry Greenberg joins the board of MusiCares established in 1989 by The Recording Academy. He was named Atlantic Senior Vice President of A&R in 2020. According to Billboard journalist Bill Holland, news of the fire was kept quiet, and one Atlantic staffer who spoke to Holland reported that he did not find out about it until a year later. He had recommended moving the company's multitracks and unreleased recordings to the building after Ertegun had complained about the aforementioned tapes taking up too much space in the company's Manhattan offices in New York. But joy also comes in birthing the babies who we continue to build and develop you never know whos going to become our next superstar!. [3] [4] He was credited with improving the production, packaging, and originality of Atlantic's LPs. Wexler had hired Greenberg and acted as his mentor, teaching him the daily operations of the record business. [48] When Spector criticized Bobby Darin's songwriting, Darin had him thrown out of the house. During 1968 Atlantic established a new subsidiary label, Cotillion Records. 6 on the R&B chart. [56] The deal included a $5000 payment against a five-year option on all other records. Over the next five years Stax and its subsidiary Volt provided Atlantic with many hits, such as "Respect" by Otis Redding, "Knock on Wood" by Eddie Floyd, "Hold On, I'm Comin'" by Sam and Dave, and "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett. [82][83][84] The four-story warehouse, located at 199 Broadway, was the former location of Vogel's Department Store, before it closed down in March 1975. [18], On the recommendation of broadcaster Willis Conover, Ertegun and Abramson visited Ruth Brown at the Crystal Caverns club in Washington and invited her to audition for Atlantic. "[19] She rose to fame quickly and was called the Queen of Soul. Atlantic was a powerhouse then as it is now, so I got to work legendary acts throughout my career, says the New York native. [21], In 1952 Atlantic signed Ray Charles, whose hits included "I Got a Woman", "What'd I Say", and "Hallelujah I Love Her So". After Crosby and Stills sang Stills' new composition "You Don't Have To Cry" that evening, Nash asked them to repeat it, and chimed in with an impromptu third harmony part. From Ertegun he learned how to treat musicians.[73]. Wexler sent Tom Dowd to upgrade Stax's recording equipment and facilities. Join to view profile Atlantic Records. Leiber and Stoller told Ertegun they had no intention of buying him out, but Ertegun was aggravated by Goldner's attitude and was convinced Wexler was conspiring with them. Roddys album was released in December 2019 and immediately exploded, she says, shifting smoothly into virtuoso promo mode. For much of its early history, Jerry Wexler had been managers of the label,[73] while Ertegun had concentrated on A&R and had less interest in the business side. Brown received a voluntary payment of $20,000 and founded the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1988 with a donation of $1.5 million from Ertegun. 2. In July 1954, Wexler and Ertegun wrote a prescient article for Cash Box devoted to what they called "cat music"; the same month, Atlantic had its first major "crossover" hit on the Billboard pop chart when the "Sh-Boom" by The Chords reached No. Despite the huge success Atlantic was enjoying with its own artists and through its deal with Stax, by 1967 Jerry Wexler was seriously concerned about the disintegration of the old order of independent record companies and, fearing for the label's future, he began agitating for it to be sold to a larger company. DZ Atlantic President Testifies to Nebraska Legislature in Support of Nuclear Workforce Development - Part 1 of 2 DZ Atlantic President Ross McConnell and Day & Zimmermann Senior Vice President of Nuclear Operations James Chesnut testified February 16 before the Nebraska Legislature's Natural Resources Committee in support of Legislative Bill 568, the Nuclear and Hydrogen Development Act. By this time creative tensions within The Hollies were coming to a head, and Nash had already decided to leave the group. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. From 1970 it also distributed Embryo Records, founded by jazz flautist Herbie Mann after his earlier Atlantic contract had expired. [6] He convinced the family dentist, Dr. Vahdi Sabit, to invest $10,000 and hired Herb Abramson, a dentistry student. [1]. The band was never even offered to them. In 1968 Peter Grant flew to New York with tapes of the debut album by British rock band Led Zeppelin. 1). In the wake of the takeover, Jerry Wexler's influence in the company rapidly diminished; by his own admission, he and Ertegun had run Atlantic as "utmost despots" but in the new corporate structure, he found himself unwilling to accept the delegation of responsibility that his executive role dictated. 1964 - Greenberg joined Seaboard Distributors in Hartford, CT, as a record promoter, where he promoted records to radio stations for such labels as Atlantic Records, Chess Records, Liberty Records, Mercury Records, Phillips, Roulette Records, and many others. 1 in September 1951. Jan 15 2023. Both became hits, and Atlantic hired him as a staff producer. . Ertegun was directly involved in the recording of the band's 1978 album And Then There Were Three, personally remixing the album's projected first single "Follow You, Follow Me". [82], In May 1988, the label held a 40th Anniversary concert, broadcast on HBO. After buying Elektra Records and its sister label Nonesuch Records in 1970, Kinney combined the operations of all of its record labels under a new holding company, WEA, and also known as Warner Music Group. "Dream Lover" reached No. Atlantic was incorporated in October 1947 and was run by Abramson (president) and Ertegun (vice-president in charge of A&R, production, and promotion).